Electric kettle

ABSTRACT

An electric kettle may include: a body receiving water or food therein; a lid configured to shield an open upper side of the body; a base provided at a lower side of the body and configured to support the body; a heating module provided in a side of the body and configured to apply heat to the body such that the content contained in the body is heated; and a handle provided at a side of the body and configured to be held by hand, wherein a control means is provided in the handle, the control means being configured to control power supplied to the heating module or to control a temperature of the content contained in the body. According to such a configuration of the electric kettle, there is an advantage in that the malfunction or failure of the electric kettle is prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to an electric kettle. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to an electric kettle whichhas a control means provided in a handle.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, an electric kettle refers to a device that heats watercontained in a body by a heating means such as a heater through thesupply of electricity.

In addition, such an electric kettle is configured such that the body isdetachable from a base to which power is supplied and is heated whileseated on the base. The electric kettle can be used by holding a handleand lifting the body away from the base. This type of an electric kettlehas various names such as a wireless electric kettle, a wirelesselectric pot, or a coffee pot, etc.

As for such an electric kettle, the body has a complicated shape and issometimes made of a plastic material to facilitate the arrangement of aninternal configuration.

However, when the electric kettle is used for a long time, the harmfulplastic components or microplastic components of the electric kettle maybe dissolved in high-temperature water, and further, the inside of theelectric kettle may be contaminated due to the vulnerability toscratches.

Additionally, when the electric kettle has the body made of glass, theelectric kettle is hygienic and has a very good appearance but may bedamaged due to impact. Furthermore, the electric kettle is inconvenientto be used due to heavy weight and is not easy to be molded.

Accordingly, in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0406420, amulti-function wireless electric pot is disclosed in which the body ismade of stainless steel, and water contained inside the body can beheated. In this structure, the body is made of a stainless material, sothe wireless electric pot is very hygienic and has excellent durability.

In addition, the upper and lower ends of the handle are connected to thebody, and particularly, the lower end is configured to be connected to aheating part provided with a heater, and water can be heated by anon/off switch provided at the handle.

However, in such a structure, the on/off switch for turning the heateron or off is provided in the handle, and a component configured tocontrol the output of power is provided in the heating part instead ofthe handle, so there is inconvenience in using the wireless electricpot.

Additionally, in order to connect the heating part provided under thebody with the on/off switch located at the handle, the handle isrequired to be connected to the upper and lower portions of the body andthus has a restricted structure, and further, the use of the handle maybe inconvenient.

Furthermore, both a heating wire and a control part are configured to belocated inside the heating part disposed under the body. Accordingly,the body increases in volume, or decreases in water-receiving space.

Meanwhile, in U.S. Pat. No. 9,226,610 B2, a push-button and a statedisplay part are provided at the handle, but the state display part isprovided at a portion of the handle held by a hand, so it is difficultto check a state of an electric kettle from above. Furthermore, theupper and lower ends of the handle are fixed integrally to the body,which increases manufacturing and assembly difficulty.

In addition, in Korean Patent Application Publication No.10-2017-0074313, “ELECTRIC KETTLE USED FOR BLENDER AND STEAMER” isdisclosed. Even in such a prior art, a first control switch configuredto turn power on or off by turning a dial or to control the rotationspeed and rotation time of a drive clutch is provided in the base, and asecond control switch configured to adjust heating temperature andheating time is provided at the handle.

Accordingly, in order to control an electric pot, it is necessary toseparately drive switches provided at different positions, so thecontrol of the electric pot is cumbersome. In addition, an electronicpart such as a PCB for controlling power on/off is provided in the baseclose to the heater, so the electronic part may be damaged due toheating of the heater.

To solve the problems of such a prior art, in European Patent No. EP2805650 B1, a controller is illustrated to be installed at an upper endpart of the handle.

However, even in such a prior art, the upper and lower ends of thehandle are coupled to the body. Accordingly, the body and the handle arerequired to be formed to be integrated with each other or each of theupper and lower ends of the handle is required to be fastened to thebody, which decreases productivity.

Additionally, multiple parts are fastened inside the handle having asmall size by screws, so the assembly of the parts is difficult, whichdecreases productivity.

In addition, in the associated patent, the body in which water isreceived is configured as a single member, and thus heat of the insideof the body is transmitted to the controller of the handle, somalfunction of the controller may be caused, and it is difficult for auser to check the temperature of water contained in the body from anupper side of the outside of the body.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to solve the aboveproblems occurring in the prior art, and the present disclosure isintended to propose an electric kettle which is improved inassemblability and productivity.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich a handle can be easily mounted to a surface of a body.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich a control part is spaced far apart from a heater such thatmalfunction of the control part due to the heating of the heater isprevented.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich the assembly of the handle composed of a handle support and ahandle cover is easily performed.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich an operation signal of the electric kettle is transmitted to amain PCB only when a user precisely presses or touches a preset positionof the press part of the handle such that malfunction of the electrickettle is prevented.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich a board support jaw supporting a PCB is provided in the handlesuch that the PCB is prevented from shaking.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich a temperature and a temperature setting state are displayedthrough the upper surface of the handle.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich an LED cover covering light emitting elements is made of atransparent or translucent material.

The present disclosure is intended to propose an electric kettle inwhich the LED cover is made of an elastic material such that water orforeign matter of the outside of the handle is prevented from beingintroduced to a control means of the inside of the handle.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above objectives, in an electric kettle ofthe present disclosure according to an aspect of the present disclosure,an end of the handle may be configured to be fastened to an upper end ofthe body. Accordingly, the electric kettle may have a compact structureand may be easy to be manufactured and assembled.

Additionally, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the bodymay be configured to have a double structure, and the handle may beprovided on the outer side of the body having a double structure.Accordingly, the temperature of the inside of the body may not betransmitted to the handle.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a handle bracket maybe coupled to an inner body by welding, and the handle may be fastenedto the handle bracket by a screw. Accordingly, damage to the body may beprevented and the fastening of the handle may be easily performed.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a handle coverconstituting the exterior of the handle and the handle support may befastened to each other by a one-touch action. Accordingly, theproductivity of electric kettle may be improved.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a holding end held inan outer body may be formed at the front end of the handle. Accordingly,the handle may be securely held in the body, so the assembly of thehandle may be easy.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a control means suchas a PCB may be provided in the handle. Accordingly, a heater isprovided at the lower side of the body and the control means may bespaced far apart from each other, so during the heating of the heater,the heat of the heater may be prevented from being transmitted to acontrol part.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a board pressing partconfigured to detect the pressing or touching of a user may be installedto be spaced apart from the touch board. Accordingly, the operationsignal of the electric kettle may be transmitted to the main PCB onlywhen a user presses or touches a precise position of the press part ofthe handle.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a board support jawsupporting the PCB may be provided in the handle. Accordingly, evenduring the movement of the electric kettle, the shaking of the PCB maybe prevented.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a temperature and atemperature setting state may be displayed through the upper surface (atop piece) of the handle.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the LED cover coveringthe light emitting elements may be made of a transparent or translucentmaterial.

In the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the LED cover coveringthe light emitting elements may be made of an elastic material and maybe in close contact with the through holes of the upper surface of thehandle. Accordingly, water or foreign matter the outside of the handlemay be prevented from being introduced to the control means of theinside of the handle.

In addition, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, each ofthe light emitting elements may be received in an LED recess of the LEDcover such that the light emitting elements are covered and sealed bythe LED cover. Accordingly, even if water of the outside is introducedinto the handle cover via the through holes, the water may be preventedfrom being introduced to the light emitting elements.

The electric kettle according to the present disclosure may include: thebody receiving water or food therein; the lid configured to shield theopen upper side of the body; the base provided at the lower side of thebody and configured to support the body; a heating module provided at aside of the body and configured to apply heat to the body such thatcontents contained in the body are heated; and the handle provided at aside of the body and configured to be held by hand, wherein the controlmeans may be provided in the handle, the control means being configuredto control power supplied to the heating module or to control thetemperature of the content contained in the body.

The handle may include the handle support supporting multiple partsprovided therein and constituting the frame of the handle, and thehandle cover coupled to the handle support and covering the multipleparts provided in the handle support, and the control means may beprovided between the handle support and the handle cover.

The handle support and the handle cover which has hooks may be coupledto each other by a one-touch action.

The handle support may include: the pillar frame which is a part coveredby a user's hand, and a side wall frame formed at the upper side of thepillar frame and having space defined therein such that the controlmeans is installed in the space.

The handle cover may include: a pillar piece covering at least onesurface of the pillar frame; a side piece formed at the upper side ofthe pillar piece and covering the outer part of the side wall frame; anda top piece formed at a side of the side wall frame and shielding theopen upper portion of the side wall frame.

The top piece may include: a first manipulation part pressed or touchedby a user such that power supplied into the electric kettle is on/off,and a second manipulation part formed at a side of the firstmanipulation part and pressed or touched by the user such thattemperature of the inside of the body is set or controlled.

The control means may include: a main PCB having multiple control parts,and a touch PCB provided at a side of the main PCB and configured todetect the pressing or touching transmitted through the firstmanipulation part or/and the second manipulation part of the top piece.

A touch booster may be provided at a side of the touch PCB andconfigured to transmit the pressing or touching of the firstmanipulation part or/and the second manipulation part of the top pieceto the touch PCB without malfunctioning.

Multiple light emitting elements may be provided at a side or an end ofthe touch PCB, the multiple light emitting elements being configured todisplay the temperature state or temperature setting of the body to theoutside.

The LED cover may be provided at a side of the touch PCB, the LED covercovering the light emitting elements.

The light emitting element may include multiple light emitting elementsinstalled at the same intervals at the front end of the touch PCB.

The light emitting elements may be provided as pairs of at least twoLEDs emitting light of different colors.

The LED cover may be made of a transparent or translucent material suchthat light emitted from the light emitting elements passes through theLED cover.

The LED cover may be made of an elastic material.

The LED cover may include: multiple individual covers covering themultiple light emitting elements, respectively; a cover stand formed ata position spaced apart from the individual covers and supporting themultiple individual covers; and cover connecting parts connecting themultiple individual covers to the cover stand.

The LED recess may be formed at the individual cover by being recessedto a side therefrom such that the light emitting element is received inthe LED recess.

The individual cover may include a base dome in contact with a surfaceof the touch PCB; a middle dome formed by protruding from a surface ofthe base dome to a side thereof and having a size having smaller thanthe size of the base dome; and a top dome formed by protruding from asurface of the middle dome to a side thereof and having a size smallerthan the size of the middle dome.

The touch booster may be provided with: a cover recess in which the basedome of the individual cover is received to be mounted thereto, and amiddle hole formed at a surface of the cover recess by passingvertically therethrough such that the middle dome of the individualcover is inserted into and installed at the middle hole.

A cover wall may be formed at the touch booster by protruding from asurface of the touch booster and may constitute an edge of the coverrecess, and a connecting groove may be formed at a side of the coverwall by being recessed therefrom such that each of the cover connectingparts is received in the connecting groove.

A cover hook may be formed at a side of the cover wall, the cover hookholding the base dome such that the base dome received in the coverrecess is not removed therefrom to the outside.

A touch transmission part may be formed at the touch booster such thatthe touch transmission part transmits the pressing of the firstmanipulation part or the second manipulation part formed at the toppiece of the handle cover to the touch PCB.

The touch transmission part may be located at the lower side of thecenter of the first manipulation part or the second manipulation partformed at the top piece of the handle cover.

The touch transmission part may be formed to be spaced apart from thetouch booster and may be installed to be connected to the touch boosterby a connecting rib having a predetermined length such that the touchtransmission part elastically moves vertically.

The connecting rib may be configured to have an L shape or an invertedshape of the L shape, whereby the opposite ends of the connecting ribmay be connected integrally with the touch transmission part and thetouch booster, respectively.

A press protrusion may be formed at a surface of the touch transmissionpart by protruding to a side therefrom.

The touch PCB may include: an indicator board having a sensor detectingthe pressing or touching of the first manipulation part or the secondmanipulation part formed at the top piece of the handle cover, and atouch board provided at a side of the indicator board and configured totransmit the pressing transmitted from the touch transmission part ofthe touch booster to the sensor of the indicator board.

A protection board may be provided between the indicator board and thetouch board, wherein the protection board may protect a sensor providedin the indicator board such that the sensor is blocked from externalinterference.

A board pressing part may be provided at the touch board and may beconfigured to be in contact with the press protrusion of the touchbooster and to transmit pressure applied from the press protrusion tothe sensor of the indicator board.

The board pressing part and the touch board may be formed to be spacedapart from each other and may be installed to be connected to each otherby at least one touch rib such that the board pressing part can movevertically.

A booster support end may be formed at an end of the touch booster byprotruding downward therefrom such that the booster support end isreceived in the upper end of the pillar frame of the handle support.

The board support jaw may be formed at a surface of the booster supportend by protruding to a side therefrom, the board support jaw supportingan end of the touch PCB or the main PCB.

Through holes may be formed at the upper surface of the handle cover bypassing vertically therethrough such that each of the through holes hasa shape corresponding to the outer shape of the top dome. The throughhole may receive the top dome therein and may guide the emission oflight of the light emitting elements to the outside of the handle.

Advantageous Effects

The electric kettle of the present disclosure has the following effects.

First, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the upper endpart of a handle is fastened to the upper end of the body. Accordingly,the electric kettle has a compact structure as a whole and is easy to bemanufactured and assembled.

Second, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a handlebracket is coupled to an inner body by welding, and the handle isfastened to the handle bracket by a screw. Accordingly, damage to thebody is prevented and the fastening of the handle is easily performed,thereby making the appearance of the electric kettle beautiful andmanufacturing thereof easy.

Third, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a handle coverconstituting the exterior of the handle and a handle support areconfigured to be fastened to each other by a one-touch action.Accordingly, the assembly of the handle is simple and thus productivityof the electric kettle is improved.

Fourth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, a holding endheld in an outer body is formed at the front end of the handle.Accordingly, the front end of the handle is coupled to the inner bodyand is held in and supported by the outer body due to the holding end,thereby realizing the secured holding of the handle and preventingdamage to the handle even in the case in which weight of contentscontained in the body is heavy.

Fifth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the holding endheld in the outer body is configured to protrude downward or upward fromthe front end of the handle. Accordingly, first, the holding end isinserted to and held in a cut portion (a handle hole) of the outer bodyand then is fastened to the handle bracket by a screw, whereby thehandle is easily fastened to a precise position of a side surface of thebody, thereby preventing defects of the electric kettle and increasingproductivity thereof.

Sixth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the bracketfastening end is provided in the handle and is screwed to the handlebracket fastened to the inner body. In addition, a reinforcing rib isprovided at such a bracket fastening end to reinforce the rigidity ofthe bracket fastening end. Accordingly, the bending of the handle isprevented and the rigidity of the handle is increased.

Seventh, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the body isconfigured to have a double structure, and the handle is provided on theouter side of the body having a double structure. Accordingly, thetemperature of the inside of the body is not be transmitted to thehandle, thereby preventing a user from being burned or feeling hot whena user holds the handle.

Eighth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the controlmeans such as a PCB is provided in the handle. Accordingly, the controlmeans is spaced far apart from a heater provided at the lower side ofthe body, thereby preventing the transmission of heat of the heater to acontrol part during the heating of the heater and preventing malfunctionof the electric kettle due to heat applied to the PCB.

Ninth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the boardpressing part configured to detect the pressing or touching of a user isinstalled to be spaced apart from the touch board. That is, the boardpressing part is installed at a center portion of a part formed bycutting a portion of the touch board and is connected to the touch boardby the connecting rib such that the board pressing part elasticallymoves vertically. Accordingly, an operation signal of the electrickettle is transmitted to the PCB only when a user presses or touches theprecise position of the press part of the handle such that the controloperation of the electric kettle is performed, thereby preventing themalfunction or error of the electric kettle which may occur when theuser holds the handle wrongly or contacts the handle unintentionally.

Tenth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the boardsupport jaw supporting the PCB is provided in the handle. Accordingly,even during the movement of the electric kettle, the vertical shaking ofthe PCB is prevented, thereby preventing the control error ormalfunction of the electric kettle.

Eleventh, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, temperatureand temperature setting state are displayed to the outside through theupper surface (the top piece) of the handle. Accordingly, while lookingdown at the upper side of the electric kettle, a user can check thecontrolled state of the electric kettle and set operation thereof,thereby increasing usability.

Twelfth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the LED covercovering light emitting elements provided in the handle is made of atransparent or translucent material. Accordingly, the light emittingelements composed of LEDS are protected from interference of externalobjects and light of the light emitting elements is easily emitted tothe upper side of the handle, thereby enabling the temperature state ofcontents in the body to be accurately displayed.

Thirteenth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, the LEDcover covering the light emitting elements is made of an elasticmaterial and is in close contact with the through holes of the uppersurface of the handle. Accordingly, external water or foreign matter isprevented from being introduced to the control means of the inside ofthe handle through the through holes of the top piece (the uppersurface) of the handle, thereby preventing the failure and malfunctionof the electric kettle.

Fourteenth, in the electric kettle of the present disclosure, each ofthe light emitting elements is received in the LED recess of the LEDcover and is covered and sealed by the LED cover, thereby preventing theintroduction of water to the light emitting elements despite theintroduction of external water to the handle cover. That is, even ifwater is introduced into the handle cover via through holes thereof, thewater flows down along the outer surfaces of the top, middle, and basedomes of the LED cover, thereby preventing the introduction of water tothe light emitting elements.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of anelectric kettle of the present disclosure according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the configuration ofthe inside of the electric kettle of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an upper side exploded perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of the electric kettle of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a lower side exploded perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of the electric kettle of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the inner configurationof a body constituting the electric kettle of the present disclosureaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an upper side exploded perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of the body constituting the electric kettle of thepresent disclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a lower side exploded perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of the body constituting the electric kettle of thepresent disclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an upper side exploded perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of the first example of the handle constituting theelectric kettle of the present disclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a lower side exploded perspective view illustrating theconfiguration of a first example of the handle constituting the electrickettle of the present disclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a partial cut perspective view illustrating the configurationof an upper half part of the handle constituting the electric kettle ofthe present disclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a handlesupport of the handle constituting the electric kettle of the presentdisclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the handle support of the handle constitutingthe electric kettle of the present disclosure according to theembodiment;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a handle cover of the handleconstituting the electric kettle of the present disclosure according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an upper side perspective view illustrating theconfigurations of a main PCB and a touch PCB of the handle constitutingthe electric kettle of the present disclosure according to theembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a lower side perspective view illustrating the configurationsof the main PCB and the touch PCB of the handle constituting theelectric kettle of the present disclosure according to the embodiment;

FIG. 16 is an upper side perspective view of a touch booster of thehandle constituting the electric kettle of the present disclosureaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a lower side perspective view of the touch booster of thehandle constituting the electric kettle of the present disclosureaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an upper side perspective view of an LED cover of the handleconstituting the electric kettle of the present disclosure according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a lower side perspective view of the LED cover of the handleconstituting the electric kettle of the present disclosure according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a handlebracket constituting the electric kettle of the present disclosureaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a handleconstituting the electric kettle of the present disclosure according toa second embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the handle of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cut perspective view illustrating a state in which thehandle cover is removed from the handle of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a partial sectional view illustrating a state in which thehandle of FIG. 21 is fastened to the body;

FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which thehandle of FIG. 21 is fastened to an inner body;

FIG. 26 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which thehandle of FIG. 21 is coupled to an outer body;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of thehandle support constituting the handle of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 28 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a handlebracket constituting the electric kettle of the present disclosureaccording to the second embodiment.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinbelow, an electric kettle of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, the configuration of the electric kettle of the presentdisclosure according to a first embodiment is illustrated. That is, aperspective view and a vertical sectional view illustrating theconfiguration of the electric kettle of the present disclosure accordingto the embodiment are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, andthe upper side and lower side exploded perspective views of the electrickettle illustrated in FIG. 1 are illustrated in in FIGS. 3 and 4,respectively.

As illustrated in these drawings, the electric kettle 1 according to theembodiment of the present disclosure may include a body 10 receivingwater or food therein; a lid 20 configured to shield the open upper sideof the body 10; a base 60 provided at a lower side of the body 10 andconfigured to support the body 10; a spout 30 provided on an upper endof the body 10 and guiding the discharge of the water or food containedinside the body 10; and a handle 40 fastened to the upper end of thebody 10 and configured to be held by hand.

Specifically, the electric kettle 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be configured in a cylindrical shape as a wholeand may be composed of the body 10 in which water or food is received;the lid 20 configured to shield the open upper side of the body 10; thehandle 40; a heating module 50; and the base 60.

The body 10 may be configured in a cylindrical shape having an openupper surface. Accordingly, the upper surface of the body 10 may beshielded by the lid 20.

The handle 40 may be configured by protruding outward from a side of thebody 10. That is, as illustrated in the drawings, the handle 40 may beprovided to protrude to the right side of the upper end of the body 10.

The base 60 may be disposed on a surface of a foundation and may beconnected to a power cord such that external power can be supplied tothe base 60.

In addition, the body 10 in an assembled state may be seated on theupper surface of the base 60.

The body 10 may be configured to have a cylindrical shape and mayinclude a heating space 101 in which water is received and heated. Inaddition, the body 10 may receive power while the body 10 is seated onthe base 60.

The base 60 and the body 10 may receive power through contact betweenpower terminals. Additionally, the supply of power to the base 60 andthe body 10 may be performed in an electromagnetic induction method.

To this end, a lower power module 64 functioning as a primary coil maybe provided in the base 60, and an upper power module 55 functioning asa secondary coil may be provided in the body 10 corresponding to thebase 60.

The heating module 50 and a bottom cover 56 may be installed at thelower end of the body 10. Accordingly, the heating module 50 and thebottom cover 56 may constitute a portion of the lower part of the body10 and thus may be referred to as “a lower body”.

The heating module 50 may include a heating plate 52 constituting abottom surface of the inside of the body 10 or configured to be in closecontact with the bottom surface of the body 10, and a heater 54configured to heat the heating plate 52, wherein the heating plate 52may be heated by power supplied from the upper power module 55. Inaddition, the heating module 50 may include a bottom cover 56constituting the lower surface of the body 10.

The spout 30 may be formed at an end of the body 10 by protrudingoutward therefrom such that water contained in the body 10 is pouredthrough the spout.

The handle 40 may be mounted to the outer surface of the body and at aside opposite to the spout 30. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, thehandle 40 may be formed at the right surface of the body 10, and thespout 30 may be formed at the left surface of the body 10. Accordingly,a user may easily pour water through the spout 30 while holding thehandle 40 with a hand.

Meanwhile, the handle 40 may be fastened to an outer surface of a side(the right side in the drawings) of the body 10.

The handle 40 is a part held by a hand such that a user easily lifts ormoves the electric kettle 1 and may include a decoration and a grip partmade of an elastic material. That is, the handle 40 may have a luxuriousexterior and at least a portion thereof (a grip part, etc.) may be madeof rubber or silicone such that the hand of a user is prevented fromslipping when the user holds the handle 40.

Additionally, the handle 40 may be provided with a button by which auser performs a power on/off manipulation or temperature control. Tothis end, the handle 40 may include a PCB provided therein and may beconfigured such that the operation state of the electric kettle 1 isdisplayed.

The body 10 is preferable configured to have a double structure. Thatis, the body 10 may be composed of an outer body 11 constituting theappearance of the outside of the body 10 and an inner body 12constituting the appearance of the inside of the body 10.

The handle 40 may be configured to be coupled to the upper end of theinner body 12. That is, the inner body 12 may be provided with a handlebracket 15 to be described later and may be configured such that thehandle 40 is fastened to the handle bracket 15. In addition, the handlebracket 15 may be fixed to the outer surface of the inner body 12 bywelding or an adhesive.

The open upper surface of the electric kettle 1, that is, the uppersurface of the body 10 may be shielded by the lid 20.

While the lid 20 is closed, the lid 20 may constitute the upper surfaceof the electric kettle 1 and may be in contact with the circumference ofthe upper end of the body 10 to seal the inside of the electric kettle1.

A cap 21 may be formed at the center of the lid 20 by protruding upwardtherefrom. The cap 21 may function to allow a user to easily raise thelid 20 or to easily couple the lid 20 to the body 10.

In addition, the handle bracket 15 may be configured to be attached toor fixed to the upper end of the inner body 12 such that the handle 40is coupled to the body 10 by a fastening bolt.

Additionally, a temperature sensor 53 may be provided at the lowersurface of the inner body 12 so as to measure the temperature of watercontained in the heating space 101.

In FIGS. 5 to 7, the detailed configuration of the body 10 isillustrated. That is, in FIG. 5, the vertical sectional view of the body10 is illustrated, and the upper side exploded perspective views andlower side exploded perspective views of the body 10 are illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

As illustrated in these drawings, the body 10 may be configured to havea cylindrical shape having an open top as a whole, and contents such aswater may be received in space defined in the body 10, and the heatingmodule 50 may be provided at the lower end parts of the body 10 suchthat contents contained in the body 10 can be heated.

The body 10 is preferably configured as a double structure. That is, thebody 10 may be composed of the inner body 12 constituting the appearanceof the inside of the body 10, and the outer body 11 constituting theappearance of the outside of the body 10.

As illustrated in the drawings, inner body 12 may have a cylindricalshape having an open top and may have space formed therein to receivewater.

The outer body 11 may be configured to have a diameter larger than thediameter of the inner body 12 and may be installed to cover the outerside of the inner body 12. As illustrated in the drawings, the outerbody 11 preferably has a cylindrical shape open in upper and lowersides.

The inner body 12 may be configured to have a diameter smaller than thediameter of the outer body 11, so a gap 102 may be defined between theinner body 12 and the outer body 11. The body 10 may have a structurehaving a significantly improved insulation performance, compared to asingle wall structure.

Both the inner body 12 and the outer body 11 may be formed of thestainless material, and the outer body 11 may constitute the exterior ofthe body 10, and the inner body 12 may have space in which water isreceived.

Accordingly, the inner body 12 may be configured to have a diametersmaller than the diameter of the outer body 11, whereby the inner body12 may be provided to be received inside the outer body 11, and the gap102 having a predetermined size may be defined between the outer body 11and the inner body 12.

The gap 102 defined between the outer body 11 and the inner body 12 mayhave an air layer and may prevent heat from being transmitted directlyto the outer body 11.

Accordingly, the gap 102 may be referred to as an insulating gap 102. Inaddition, even when water received in the inner body 12 is heated to behot, the outer body 11 may maintain a relatively low temperature.

In addition, the insulating gap 102 may communicate with space in whichthe heating module 50 is disposed and the inner space of the handle 40.Accordingly, although not shown, an electric wire connected to the PCBlocated in the handle 40 may pass through the insulating gap 102 definedbetween the outer body 11 and the inner body 12 and may be guided tospace in which the heating module 50 is disposed.

The body 10 may be configured in such a manner that the upper and lowerends of the outer body 11 having a cylindrical shape are coupled to theupper and lower ends of the inner body 12 having a cylindrical shape,respectively.

For example, the upper and lower ends of the outer body 11 and the upperand lower ends of the inner body 12 may be connected to each other bywelding while superimposed on each other. In this case, the remainingportions except for the upper and lower ends of the outer body 11 andthe inner body 12 may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance fromeach other to have an insulating structure.

The structure of the upper end of the body 10 will be described in moredetail. The upper end of the outer body 11 and the upper end of theinner body 12 may be coupled to each other and may be fixed to eachother by welding.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, an inner upper end part 121 may be formed atthe upper end of the inner body 12 by extending outward therefrom andmay be configured to couple the upper end of the inner body 12 to theupper end of the outer body 11.

The inner upper end part 121 may be formed by doubly extending from theinner body 12 to be stepped outward therefrom, wherein an outer end ofthe inner upper end part 121 may be configured to be in contact with theupper end of the outer body 11.

Accordingly, the upper portion of the gap 102 may be shielded by theinner upper end part 121. Of course, the upper end part of the outerbody 11 may extend inward to be in contact with the upper end of theinner body 12.

The handle 40 and the spout 30 may be coupled to the body 10.

Specifically, the handle 40 and the spout 30 may be fastened to theupper end part of the inner body 12 and may protrude outward through theouter body 11.

Accordingly, the handle hole 111 allowing the handle 40 to be installedthrough the outer body 11 and a water discharge hole 112 allowing thespout 30 to be installed through the outer body 11 may be formed in theouter body 11.

Specifically, the handle hole 111 which is a rectangular cut hole may behorizontally formed through the upper end part of the right surface ofthe outer body 11.

In addition, the water discharge hole 112 may be horizontally formedthrough a side opposite to the handle hole 111. That is, the waterdischarge hole 112 may be formed at the upper end part of the leftsurface of the outer body 11 and preferably has a triangular shape tocorrespond to the shape of the spout 30.

An outer hole 113 and an inner hole 123 may be formed through the frontsurface of the outer body 11 and the front surface of the inner body 12,respectively, in a front-to-rear direction.

The outer hole 113 and the inner hole 123 are portions at which atransparent window 13 to be described later is installed. Accordingly,each of the outer hole 113 and the inner hole 123 preferably has arectangular shape vertically long such that each of the outer hole 113and the inner hole 123 corresponds to the shape of the transparentwindow 13.

Multiple water discharge holes 125 may be formed through the upper endpart of the left surface of the inner body 12. The water discharge holes125 may guide the discharge of water contained in the inner body 12 tothe outside through the spout 30. Accordingly, the multiple waterdischarge holes 125 is preferably formed at a position corresponding tothe water discharge hole 112 formed at the upper end part of the leftsurface of the outer body 11.

The handle bracket 15 may be installed at the upper end part of theright surface of the inner body 12. The handle bracket 15 allows thehandle 40 to be coupled to and fixed to the inner body 12 and ispreferably formed in a U shape (when viewed from above).

Accordingly, the left ends of the handle bracket 15 may be coupled tothe inner body 12 by welding, an adhesive, or a fastener, and the rightend of the handle bracket 15 may be coupled to the handle 40.

When the handle bracket 15 is fixed to the inner body 12, the right endof the handle bracket 15 is preferably exposed to the outside (the rightside of the body) through the handle hole 111 of the outer body 11 asillustrated in FIG. 5.

In addition, the handle 40 may be fastened to the handle bracket 15 by afastening means. That is, the handle 40 may be coupled to the handlebracket 15 by the fastening means such as bolts and nuts.

The body 10 may be made of a stainless material and may be formed byprocessing such as welding. Accordingly, the processed portions of thebody 10 may be smoothed by electropolishing such that the surface ofinner space of the body 10 receiving water maintains a smooth state.

Additionally, the body 10 may have corrosion resistance in the inner andouter surfaces through electropolishing. For this reason, the body 10 ispreferably electropolished after coupling the inner body 12 to the outerbody 11.

In a state in which the body 10 is formed by coupling the inner body 12to the outer body 11, to electropolish the body 10, the body 10 may beimmersed in an electrolyte and then the electropolishing of the body maybe performed.

In the process, due to the structural characteristics of the body 10,the electrolyte is necessarily introduced into the insulating gap 102defined between the inner body 12 and the outer body 11. That is, whenthe body 10 is immersed in the electrolyte in a state in which the body10 is formed, the electrolyte is necessarily introduced into the gapdefined between the inner body 12 and the outer body 11 since the handlehole 111 and the water discharge hole 112 are open.

When the body 10 is raised after the electropolishing is completed, theelectrolyte present between the inner body 12 and the outer body 11 maybe discharged to the lower side of the gap 102. That is, the lower endsof the inner body 12 and the outer body 11 may not be in contact witheach other and may have space therebetween such that the bottom cover 56is coupled to the lower ends. Prior to the coupling of a part such asthe bottom cover 56, the electrolyte may be efficiently discharged tothe lower side of the gap 102.

Additionally, even in case of washing the body 10 after the completionof the electropolishing of the body 10, when the body 10 is raised afterthe body 10 is immersed and washed in a washing solution, theelectrolyte present between the inner body 12 and the outer body 11 maybe naturally discharged downward through the gap 102.

Accordingly, after the electropolishing of the body 10, the electrolytepresent in the body 10 may be removed, and when the body 10 is washedafter the electropolishing, all liquid remaining in the body 10 may beefficiently discharged.

The transparent window 13 may be installed at the body 10. Thetransparent window 13 allows a user to check the height or boiling stateof water contained in the electric kettle 1 from the outside of theelectric kettle 1 without opening the lid 20.

The transparent window 13 may extend long in a vertical direction andmay be fixed to each of the inner body 12 and the outer body 11.Preferably, the transparent window 13 may be coupled to the inner body12.

The transparent window 13 is preferably formed to be transparent suchthat a user sees through the inside of the body 10 from the outside toknow the amount of food such as water contained in the body 10.

A transparent window gasket 135 may be provided between the transparentwindow 13 and the body 10 and may be configured such that water isprevented from leaking through a gap between the transparent window 13and the body 10. That is, the transparent window 13 may be mounted tothe body 10 such that an airtight state is maintained between thetransparent window 13 and the body 10.

Accordingly, the transparent window gasket 135 may be mounted betweenthe transparent window 13 and the inner hole 123 or between thetransparent window 13 and the outer hole 113. Preferably, thetransparent window gasket 135 is mounted between the inner hole 123 andthe transparent window 13 such that water contained in the inner body 12is prevented from leaking.

The transparent window gasket 135 may be formed in a shape correspondingto the shape of the circumference of the transparent window 13 and maybe made of an elastic material.

When the transparent window 13 is mounted to the inner hole 123 of theinner body 12, the inner surface of the transparent window 13 ispreferably located on the same plane as the inner surface of the innerbody 12.

Accordingly, in the state in which the transparent window 13 is mountedto the body 10, any part of the transparent window 13 may not protrudeto the inside of the inner body 12, so the inner structure of the innerbody may be simple and may be easy to be cleaned.

Additionally, the front surface of the transparent window 13 may also beconfigured to be located on the same plane as the outer surface of theouter body 11. Accordingly, in a state in which the transparent window13 is mounted, the transparent window 13 may not protrude or may not berecessed more than the outer surface of the outer body 11, so theexterior of the outer body 11 may be further improved.

In addition, a gap between the transparent window 13 and the inner body12 may be airtight by the transparent window gasket 135, so watercontained in the body 10 may be prevented from leaking to the outside.

Of course, as required, an additional gasket or packing may be providedat the outer body 11 and may further seal a gap between the outer body11 and the transparent window 13 such that there is no gap between theouter body 11 and the transparent window 13.

The heating module 50 may be mounted to the lower portion of the body10. That is, the heating module 50 may be mounted to the lower surfaceof the inner body 12.

The heating module 50 is intended to increase the temperature ofcontents such as water by heating the inner space of the body 10 and tocontrol the temperature thereof.

The heating module 50 may include: a heater assembly 51 configured togenerate heat; the temperature sensor 53 measuring the temperature ofwater contained in the inner body 12; and the upper power module 55configured to supply power to the heater assembly 51.

In addition, the bottom cover 56 may be provided at the lower side ofthe heating module 50 so as to cover remaining components except for aportion of the upper power module 55 such that the remaining componentsare not exposed to the lower side of the body 10.

The bottom cover 56 may be mounted to the outer body 11 through the openlower surface thereof and may constitute at least a portion of a lowerpart of the body 10, so the bottom cover 56 may be referred to as abottom body.

In addition, in a state in which the assembly of the bottom body iscompleted, the body 10 may be seated on the base 60. That is, to operatethe electric kettle 1, the body 10 with which the bottom body isassembled is required to be seated on the base 60.

In the state in which the body 10 is seated on the base 60, the upperpower module 55 of the body 10 and the lower power module 64 of the base60 may be in contact with each other, so the supply of power to theelectric kettle may be performed. In this state, due to the powersupply, the heater 54 may be heated and may boil water.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the heating module 50 may be disposed at theinner side of the open lower surface of the outer body 11. When thebottom cover 56 is removed from the outer body 11, the remainingcomponents of the heating module 50 may be exposed to the outsidethrough the open lower surface of the outer body 11.

The heater assembly 51 may include the heating plate 52 coupled to thelower surface of the inner body 12, and the heater 54 mounted to thelower surface of the heating plate 52.

Specifically, the upper power module 55 may be disposed at the center ofthe lower part of the body 10, and the heater 54 may be provided at theouter side of the upper power module 55 such that the lower surface ofthe inner body 12 can be heated.

In addition, a cover PCB may be provided in the bottom cover 56 so as tosupply power to the heater 54.

Accordingly, the upper power module 55 may be located at the center ofthe heating module 50. In addition, the upper power module 55 may bemounted to the center of the heating plate 52.

The heating plate 52 may be coupled to the lower surface of the innerbody 12, and the heater 54 may be mounted to the heating plate 52.

The heater 54 may be configured as a sheath heater. In addition, theheater 54 may be located at a side outer than the upper power module 55and may be disposed along the circumference of the heating plate 52.

The opposite ends of the heater 54 may be spaced apart from each otherat positions adjacent to each other, and a connection terminal of eachof the opposite ends of the heater spaced apart from each other may beexposed and may be connected with the cover PCB by an electric wire.

The heating plate 52 may be configured in a disk shape having a sizecorresponding to the size of the lower surface of the inner body 12 andmay include the heater 54 mounted to the lower surface of the heatingplate 52.

The heating plate 52 may be formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloymaterial having high thermal conductivity such that the heat of theheater 54 can be evenly transmitted to the entire lower surface of theinner body 12. In addition, the heating plate 52 and the heater 54 maybe integrally formed by die casting.

The heating plate 52 may include a temperature sensor mounting hole 521to which the temperature sensor 53 is mounted.

A sensor packing 531 may be provided in the temperature sensor mountinghole 521. Such a sensor packing 531 may seal the temperature sensormounting hole 521.

The heating plate 52 may be mounted to the lower surface of the innerbody 12. In this case, the heating plate 52 may be completely in closecontact with the lower surface of the inner body 12 and may be blazedand coupled integrally to the inner body 12 to effectively perform heattransmission.

The heating plate 52 may be formed in a disk shape and may have adiameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner body 12.

A sensor hole 124 may be formed vertically through the bottom surface ofthe inner body 12 such that the upper end of the temperature sensor 53is exposed through the sensor hole.

The sensor hole 124 may be formed at a position corresponding verticallyto the temperature sensor mounting hole 521.

The temperature sensor 53 may be exposed to the upper side of the bottomsurface of the inner body 12 to detect the temperature of water in theheating space 101.

Meanwhile, the temperature sensor 53 may be installed to have height ofan upper end thereof corresponding to the height of the bottom surfaceof the inner body 12, wherein a gap between the temperature sensor 53and the inner body 12 may be sealed by the sensor packing 531.

Accordingly, the upper end of the temperature sensor 53 may not protrudeupward from the bottom surface of the inner body 12, so even whencleaning the inside of the body 10, the temperature sensor 53 may notinterfere with the cleaning.

Meanwhile, the remaining components of the heating module 50 except forthe bottom cover 56 may be completely received in the body 10. Inaddition, when the bottom cover 56 is mounted to the body 10, the bottomcover 56 may shield the remaining components of the heating module 50provided in the body 10 and may constitute the exterior of the lowersurface of the body 10.

A bottom hole 561 may be formed at the center of the bottom cover 56,and a portion of the upper power module 55 may be exposed to the outsidethrough the bottom hole 561.

Accordingly, the upper power module 55 may be exposed to the outsidethrough the bottom hole 561, and thus when the body 10 is mounted to thebase 60, the upper power module 55 may be configured to be in contactwith the lower power module 64.

In FIGS. 8 to 20, the configuration of the handle 40 is illustrated indetail. That is, the upper side and lower side exploded perspectiveviews of the handle 40 are illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively; apartial cut perspective view of the handle 40 is illustrated in FIG. 10;and the perspective view and rear view of a handle support 41constituting the handle 40 are illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12,respectively. In addition, an exploded perspective view of a handlecover 42 constituting the handle 40 is illustrated in FIG. 13; the upperand lower side perspective views of the configurations of a main PCB 46and a touch PCB 47 constituting the handle 40 are illustrated in FIGS.14 and 15, respectively; and the upper and lower side perspective viewsof the touch booster 48 constituting the handle 40 are illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17, respectively. Additionally, the upper and lower sideperspective views of an LED cover 49 constituting the handle 40 areillustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, respectively; a perspective view of theconfiguration of the handle bracket 15 to which the handle 40 is coupledis illustrated in FIG. 20.

As illustrated in these drawings, the handle 40 may be composed of thehandle support 41 constituting a frame of the handle 40 and the handlecover 42 covering multiple parts provided in the handle support 41. Thatis, the handle 40 may include the handle support 41 supporting multipleparts provided therein and constituting the frame of the handle 40, andthe handle cover 42 coupled to the handle support 41, the handle covercovering the multiple parts installed in the handle support 41 andfunctioning as a decoration.

The handle support 41 may be composed of a side wall frame 411 coveringparts received in the handle support, and a pillar frame 412 formed bybending downward and extending from an end of the side wall frame 411.That is, the handle support 41 may be composed of the pillar frame 412which is a part covered by the hand of a user, and the side wall frame411 formed at the upper side of the pillar frame 412 and having spaceformed therein in which a control means 45 to be described later isinstalled.

Specifically, the handle support 41 may be configured to have an L shapeas a whole and may be coupled to the upper end part of the body 10. Thehandle support 41 may be composed of the side wall frame 411 coupled tothe body 10 and having multiple electronic parts provided therein, andthe pillar frame 412 formed by vertically bending downward and extendingfrom an end (a rear end) of the side wall frame 411.

Of course, the pillar frame 412 may not bend vertically downward fromthe side wall frame 411, but may extend to have an acute angle or anobtuse angle.

A bracket fastening end 413 fastened to the handle bracket 15 may beprovided in the handle support 41.

Specifically, the bracket fastening end 413 may be formed to have apredetermined size at the front end part of the side wall frame 411 ofthe handle support 41. That is, the front of the side wall frame 411 maybe open and such an open portion thereof may be shielded by the bracketfastening end 413 having a predetermined height. The bracket fasteningend 413 may be a part coupled to the handle bracket 15 by a fasteningmeans.

Accordingly, at least one bracket fastening hole 413 a may be formedthrough the bracket fastening end 413 in a front-to-rear direction,wherein a fastening means such as a bolt may be inserted through thebracket fastening hole.

A holding end 415 may be formed at an end of the handle support 41 byprotruding outward therefrom, the holding end 415 being held in theouter body 11. That is, in the handle support 41, the holding end 415held in the handle hole 111 of the outer body 11 may be formed byprotruding downward from the front end of the side wall frame 411.

Specifically, the holding end 415 having a predetermined size may beformed at the front end of the side wall frame 411 of the handle support41 by protruding forward therefrom. That is, the holding end 415 held inthe outer body 11 may be formed at the front lower end portion of theside wall frame 411 of the pillar frame 412 by protruding forward anddownward therefrom.

The holding end 415 may be formed to be spaced apart by a predetermineddistance from the front end of the side wall frame 411 such that theholding end 415 is received inside the outer body 11. Accordingly, theholding end 415 may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance forwardfrom the front end of the side wall frame 411 and may be formed to beintegrated with the side wall frame 411 by a joining part 415 aextending by a predetermined distance forward from the lower end of theside wall frame 411.

The holding end 415 may be formed by protruding upward or downward fromthe front end of the handle support 41. That is, in the embodiment, theholding end 415 is formed by protruding downward from the joining part415 a extending forward from the front end of the side wall frame 411,but such a holding end 415 may be formed by protruding upward from thefront end of the side wall frame 411.

Accordingly, when the holding end 415 is formed by protruding downwardfrom the front end of the handle support 41, the holding end 415 may beheld in a lower end of the handle hole 111 of the outer body 11.Contrarily, when the holding end 415 is formed by protruding upward fromthe front end of the handle support 41, the holding end 415 may be heldin an upper end of the handle hole 111 of the outer body 11.

At least one reinforcing rib 413 b is preferably formed at a side of thebracket fastening end 413 so as to reinforce the rigidity of the bracketfastening end 413. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 10, one reinforcingrib 413 b or a pair of reinforcing ribs 413 b may be formed at the rearside of the bracket fastening end 413, the reinforcing rib 413 b havinga cross-sectional area gradually increasing downward.

Accordingly, the bracket fastening end 413 may be securely fixed to thehandle support 41 by being supported by the reinforcing rib 413 b.

The holding end 415 may be located inside the outer body 11, and asurface of the holding end 415 is preferably configured to have acurvature corresponding to a curvature of the inner surface of the outerbody 11. That is, a rear surface of the holding end 415 may beconfigured to have curvature corresponding to the curvature of the innersurface of the outer body 11.

In this case, when the holding end 415 is held in the handle hole 111 ofthe outer body 11, the holding end 415 may be located inside the outerbody 11 and the rear surface of the holding end 415 may be in contactwith the inner surface of the outer body 11. Accordingly, the curvatureof the rear surface of the holding end 415 may correspond to thecurvature of the inner surface of the outer body 11 and thus the holdingend 415 and the outer body 11 may be maintained to be in close contactwith each other.

A support end groove 416 may be formed in the handle support 41 suchthat a booster support end 487 of the touch booster 48 to be describedlater is received in the support end groove 416. That is, the supportend groove 416 having a U shape having an open upper portion may beformed at the rear end of the side wall frame 411.

In addition, as illustrated in the drawing, a side wall hook groove 417may be formed at the outer surface of the side wall frame 411 by beingrecessed inward by a predetermined depth therefrom, and a side wall hook443 to be described later may be inserted to and fastened to such a sidewall hook groove 417.

A holding-rib groove 418 may be formed at the upper end of the side wallframe 411 by being depressed therefrom such that a holding rib 488 ofthe touch booster 48 to be described later is seated in the holding-ribgroove 418.

The grip part 401 may be formed at the front surface of the pillar frame412 and may be made of a plastic material or an elastic material such asrubber or silicone.

Accordingly, when the grip part 401 is made of plastic or an elasticmaterial, a user may feel soft touch when holding the handle 40 by hand,and the slipping of the hand may be prevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 22, the grip part 401 may be configured to have ashape of an “L” (when viewed from the side of the grip part), and thefront surface of the pillar frame 412 may be configured to be in closecontact with the lower surface of the side wall frame 411.

The grip part 401 is preferably coupled to the pillar frame 412 or theside wall frame 411 by welding or an adhesive. The grip part 401 may becoupled to the pillar frame 412 and may have a cylindrical shape which auser can hold with a hand and may be configured to have an outerdiameter gradually decreasing downward.

In addition, the grip part 401 may have a corrugated or wrinkled shapeformed at a surface thereof such that when a user holds the grip partwith a hand, the hand is prevented from slipping, whereby the grip part401 may be configured to be safely held such that the electric kettle 1can be raised.

Accordingly, when the grip part 401 is formed of a material with highfrictional force, such as rubber or silicone, the hand of a user mayfurther be prevented from slipping when holding the handle 40.

A handle cap 402 may be provided at the lower surface of the pillarframe 412. The handle cap 402 may cover the lower end of the handle 40and may be coupled to the pillar frame 412 by welding or an adhesive, orby forcible fitting, or by a separate fastening means.

At least one pillar hook hole 403 may be formed through the rear surface(a front surface in FIG. 12) of the pillar frame 412 in a front-to-reardirection. In the present disclosure, two pillar hook holes 403 areillustrated to be formed vertically. The pillar hook 444 to be describedlater may be fastened to each of such pillar hook holes 403.

The handle cover 42 is preferably made of stainless steel as the body 10is made of stainless steel and may form the outer shape of the handle40, so the handle cover 42 may function as a decoration.

The handle cover 42 may be composed of the pillar piece 422 covering atleast one surface of the pillar frame 412; a side piece 421 formed atthe upper side of the pillar piece 422 and covering the outer part ofthe side wall frame 411; and a top piece 43 formed at a side of the sidewall frame 411 and shielding the open upper portion of the side wallframe 411.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the pillar piece 422 may be configured tocover the rear surface of the pillar frame 412. Accordingly, the pillarpiece 422 is preferably configured to correspond to the curvature andshape of the rear surface of the pillar frame 412.

The side piece 421 is a part covering the side wall frame 411 of thehandle support 41. Accordingly, the side piece 421 may be formed to beintegrated with the upper side of the pillar piece 422.

The top piece 43 may shield the open upper portion of the side wallframe 411 of the handle support 41, may be formed to be integrated withthe upper end of the side piece 421, and may be made of a flat platehaving a predetermined thickness.

Such a handle cover 42 may constitute the exterior of the handle 40 andmay be made of a rigid and smooth material such as stainless steel suchthat the handle cover has a luxurious texture.

The handle cover 42 may be configured to be fastened to the handlesupport 41 by a hook coupling. That is, the handle cover 42 may furtherinclude hooks, and thus the handle support 41 and the handle cover 42may be coupled to each other by a one-touch action.

Specifically, a cover bracket 44 may be provided at the inner surface ofthe handle cover 42. Such a cover bracket 44 may be provided with atleast one hook.

The cover bracket 44 is preferably coupled integrally to the handlecover 42. That is, the cover bracket 44 may be in close contact with andfixed to the inner surface of the handle cover 42 by welding or anadhesive.

The cover bracket 44 may be composed of a side part 441 configured in ashape corresponding to the outer surface of the side wall frame 411, anda pillar part 442 having a shape corresponding to the outer surface ofthe pillar frame 412. Accordingly, the cover bracket 44 may beconfigured to correspond to the outer surface of the handle support 41.

Accordingly, the pillar part 442 is preferably formed to be verticallylong such that the pillar part 442 has a curvature corresponding to therear surface of the pillar frame 412 of the handle support 41. The sidepart 441 is preferably formed in a “U” shape (when viewed from above)such that the side part 441 corresponds to the outer surface of the sidewall frame 411.

Of course, the cover bracket 44 may have a shape corresponding to theshape and curvature of the inner surface of the handle cover 42 and maybe in close contact with and fixed to the inner surface of the handlecover 42.

The hook 443 or 444 and the hook groove 403 or 417 may be formed at thecover bracket 44 and the handle support 41, respectively, the hook 443or 444 and the hook groove 403 or 417 being configured to have shapescorresponding to each other to be fastened to each other. That is, whilethe cover bracket 44 is attached integrally to the handle cover 42, thecover bracket 44 may be coupled to the handle support 41 by a one-touchaction such that the handle cover 42 is coupled to the handle support41.

Accordingly, the handle support 41 and the cover bracket 44 may beprovided with the hook grooves 403 and 417 and the hooks 443 and 444,respectively, each of the hook grooves and each of the hooks beingcoupled to each other, wherein each of the hooks 443 and 444 and each ofthe hook grooves 403 and 417 may include at least one hook and at leastone hook groove provided at positions corresponding to the side part 441and the side wall frame 411, respectively, and at positionscorresponding to the pillar part 442 and the pillar frame 412,respectively. That is, the hooks 443 and 444 may include the side wallhook 443 provided at the side part 441 of the cover bracket 44, and thepillar hook 444 provided at the pillar part 442 of the cover bracket 44,wherein the side wall hook 443 and the pillar hook 444 may be formed bybeing cut and bent from the cover bracket 44.

More specifically, as described above, a pair of side wall hook grooves417 may be formed at opposite side surfaces, respectively, of the sidewall frame 411 of the handle support 41 by being recessed bypredetermined depth inward therefrom.

In addition, the pillar hook hole 403 may be formed in the rear surfaceof the pillar frame 412 of the handle support 41. The pillar hook hole403 is preferably formed through the rear surface the pillar frame 412in a front-to-rear direction. Of course, the pillar hook hole 403 may beconfigured as the shape of a groove formed by being recessed bypredetermined depth inward (forward) from the rear surface of the pillarframe 412 in addition to the shape of a hole formed through the rearsurface of the pillar frame 412 forward and rearward.

Meanwhile, the side wall hook 443 and the pillar hook 444 may be formedat the cover bracket 44.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the side wall hook 443 may be formed bycutting a predetermined portion of the side part 441 of the coverbracket 44, and the pillar hook 444 may be formed by cutting apredetermined portion of the pillar part 442 of the cover bracket 44.

The side wall hook 443 may be formed at a position corresponding to theside wall hook groove 417 of the side wall frame 411. Accordingly, whenthe handle cover 42 and the handle support 41 are coupled to each other,the side wall hook 443 may be configured to be received in the side wallhook groove 417.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, a lower end of the side wallhook 443 is connected to the side part 441, and an upper end of the sidewall hook 443 may be formed by being bent inward. In this case, when thehandle cover 42 and the handle support 41 are coupled to each other, theupper end part of the side wall hook 443 may be received in the sidewall hook groove 417 such that the handle cover 42 is prevented frombeing removed upward from the handle support 41.

The pillar hook 444 may be formed at a position corresponding to thepillar hook hole 403 of the pillar frame 412, and when the handle cover42 and the handle support 41 are coupled to each other, the pillar hook444 may be configured to be inserted into and held in the pillar hookhole 403.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the pillar hook 444 may beconnected to the pillar part 442 at the upper end of the pillar hook andmay be configured to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance forwardfrom the pillar part 442 at the lower end of the pillar hook. In thiscase, to couple the handle cover 42 and the handle support 41 to eachother, the handle cover 42 may be moved downward with the handle cover42 being in close contact with the rear surface of the handle support41. In this case, the pillar hook 444 may be naturally inserted into thepillar hook hole 403 and thus the handle cover 42 may be maintained tobe in close contact with the handle support 41.

More specifically, the pillar hook 444 may include a receiving part 444a cut from the pillar part 442 and formed at a position spaced apartfrom the pillar part 442; a support part 444 b bending from a first end(an upper end) of the receiving part 444 a and connecting the receivingpart 444 a and the pillar part 442 to each other; and a guide part 444 cformed by bending and extending from a second end (a lower end) of thereceiving part 444 a.

Accordingly, the pillar hook 444 may be configured to have an L shape(when viewed at the right side) as a whole, and the guide part 444 clocated at the lower end of the pillar hook 444 may bend forward (to theleft side when viewed at the right side). In addition, a distancebetween the receiving part 444 a and the pillar part 442 may have a sizecorresponding to the thickness of the rear surface of the pillar frame412.

In this case, when the handle cover 42 is moved downward while being inclose contact with the rear surface of the handle support 41, the guidepart 444 c of the pillar hook 444 may be naturally inserted into thepillar hook hole 403, and when the handle cover 42 is continuously moveddownward, the receiving part 444 a may be inserted into the pillar frame412, so the handle cover 42 may be coupled to the handle support 41.

In addition, at least one rib supporting the PCB may be provided at theinner side of the side wall frame 411.

The handle bracket 15 may include an attaching part 151 coupled to theinner body 12; a fastening part 152 coupled to the bracket fastening end413; and a connecting part 153 connecting the attaching part 151 and thefastening part 152 to each other, the attaching part 151 and thefastening part 152 being spaced apart from each other.

The attaching part 151 may be configured to have a curvaturecorresponding to the outer surface of the inner body 12 and may be fixedto the inner body 12 by welding or an adhesive. In addition, in theembodiment of the present disclosure, the attaching part 151 isillustrated to include a pair of attaching parts formed by being spacedhorizontally apart by a predetermined distance from each other, but theattaching part 151 may include at least three attaching parts.

The fastening part 152 may be a part coupled to the bracket fasteningend 413 by a fastening means. Accordingly, such a fastening part 152 maybe configured as a flat plate having a predetermined thickness tocorrespond to the bracket fastening end 413 and may have at least onefastening hole 154 formed therethrough in a front-to-rear direction suchthat a bolt is inserted into the fastening hole 154.

Meanwhile, the handle 40 may be provided with the control means 45configured to control power supplied to the heating module 50 or tocontrol the temperature of contents contained inside the body 10.

The control means 45 may be provided between the handle support 41 andthe handle cover 42. That is, space having a predetermined size may bedefined inside the side wall frame 411 constituting the handle support41 of the handle 40, and the control means 45 including multipleelectronic parts may be installed in such space.

Meanwhile, the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42 may be configured tohave a manipulation part by which a user manipulates the operation ofthe electric kettle 1 and a display part through which a user can checkthe operation state of the electric kettle 1.

The top piece 43 of the handle cover 42 may be provided with a firstmanipulation part 431 pressed or touched by a user such that powersupplied into the electric kettle 1 can be on/off, and a secondmanipulation part 432 pressed or touched by a user such that thetemperature of the inside of the body 10 can be set or controlled.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the first manipulation part 431 may be formedin the shape of a circular flat plate and may configured to haveelasticity in at least a center part thereof such that the center partcan vertically move.

The second manipulation part 432 may be provided at the front side ofthe first manipulation part 431 and may also be configured to haveelasticity such that the second manipulation part 432 moves vertically.Accordingly, a cut line 432 a having a predetermined size may be formedat each of the front and rear of such a second manipulation part 432such that the second manipulation part 432 can vertically move to someextent.

Multiple through holes 433 may be formed at the front of the secondmanipulation part 432, that is, at a portion of the top piece 43adjacent to the body 10 by passing vertically therethrough. Each of thethrough holes 433 may be a hole allowing the light of a light emittingelement 477 to be described later to pass through the upper side of thetop piece 43 such that a user can recognize the light.

In addition, a temperature indicator may be printed beside such athrough hole 433 such that the temperature indicator indicates thetemperature of light emitted through the through hole 433.

The control means 45 may include: the main PCB 46 in which multiplecontrol parts are provided; the touch PCB 47 configured to detectpressing or touching transmitted through the first manipulation part 431or/and the second manipulation part 432 of the top piece 43; and thetouch booster 48 configured to transmit the pressing or touching of thefirst manipulation part 431 or/and the second manipulation part 432 ofthe top piece 43 to the touch PCB 47 without malfunctioning.

More specifically, the touch booster 48 may be installed to be in closecontact with the lower side of the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42.In addition, a double-sided tape 451 may be used between the touchbooster 48 and the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42 such that thetouch booster 48 is in close contact with and fixed to the lower surfaceof the top piece 43.

The touch PCB 47 may be installed at the lower side of the touch booster48. The touch PCB 47 is preferably installed to be in close contact withthe lower surface of the touch booster 48. To this end, the double-sidedtape 451 may be used between the touch booster 48 and the touch PCB 47for the coupling of the touch booster 48 and the touch PCB 47 to eachother.

The main PCB 46 may be provided at the lower side of the touch PCB 47.

The main PCB 46 is intended to set various functions of the electrickettle 1 or to control operation thereof, wherein multiple electronicparts are installed in the main PCB. That is, the main PCB 46 may have afunction of controlling the overall operation of the electric kettle 1and may be connected to the heating module 50 so as to control theoperation of the heater 54.

The main PCB 46 may be coupled to the touch PCB 47. To this end, atleast one upper connector 47 a and at least one lower connector 46 a maybe provided at the touch PCB 47 and the main PCB 46, respectively, suchthat the upper connector 47 a and the lower connector 46 a have shapescorresponding to each other to be fastened to each other.

In addition, a connection connector 46 b for power connection or datainput/output may be provided at the lower side of the main PCB 46.

The touch PCB 47 may include: an indicator board 471 having a sensordetecting the pressing or touching of the first manipulation part 431 orthe second manipulation part 432 formed at the top piece 43 of thehandle cover 42; a touch board 473 configured to transmit the pressingtransmitted from a touch transmission part 481 of the touch booster 48to the sensor of the indicator board 471; and a protection board 475provided between the indicator board 471 and the touch board 473,wherein the protection board may protect the sensor provided in theindicator board 471 such that the sensor is blocked from externalinterference.

Accordingly, the touch PCB 47 preferably consists of three layers, andthe indicator board 471 may be provided at the lowest side of the touchPCB 47 such that a sensor detecting the manipulation of a user such as atouch sensor 472 is installed at the indicator board; the protectionboard 475 may be provided on the indicator board 471, the protectionboard protecting the parts such as the touch sensor 472 such that theparts such as the touch sensor 472 do not interfere with external otherparts; and the touch board 473 may be provided on the protection board475, the touch board being configured to transmit the pressingtransmitted from the touch booster 48 to the touch sensor 472.

The touch sensor 472 may be configured as a piezo-type touch sensorusing a piezoelectric element so as to prevent misdetection and toeffectively detect the touch of the handle cover 42 made of a stainlessmaterial. That is, during the manipulation of the manipulation part 431or 432, the transformation of the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42may be detected such that touching by a user is recognized, so themisrecognition of the handle 40 which is frequently touched by the handof a user may be prevented and the valid manipulation of the handle 40may be effectively recognized.

The touch sensor 472 is preferably provided at a position verticallycorresponding to the manipulation part 431 or 432. Accordingly, when auser presses the manipulation part 431 or 432, the touch sensor 472 maydetect the pressing of the user and may generate a signal for operationof the electric kettle.

Multiple light emitting elements 477 may be provided at a side or end ofthe touch PCB 47, the light emitting elements 477 externally displayingthe temperature state or setting of the body 10. That is, multiple lightemitting elements 477 may be provided at the front end (a left end inFIG. 14) of the touch PCB 47. The light emitting elements 477 may bedisposed at positions corresponding vertically to the through holes 433such that the number of the light emitting elements 477 is the same asthe number of the through holes 433.

More specifically, multiple light emitting elements 477 may be providedat the front end (the left end in FIG. 14) of the indicator board 471.In the embodiment of the present disclosure, five sets of the lightemitting elements 477 are illustrated to be formed at the sameintervals, wherein a pair of two LEDs emitting red and white light isprovided at a light emitting element 477.

Accordingly, it is possible to indicate the heated state orheat-retaining state of contents contained in the body 10 with differentlight. That is, for example, when the contents continues to be heated, awhite LED of LEDs of the light emitting elements 477 may be turned on toindicate a heated state of the contents, and when the contents are inthe heat-retaining state after the heating is completed, a red LED ofthe light emitting elements 477 may be turned on and emit red lightthrough the through hole 433 such that a user can check theheat-retaining state with eyes.

Accordingly, the multiple light emitting elements 477 may be installedat the same intervals at the front end of the touch PCB 47 and may beprovided as pairs of at least two LEDs emitting light of differentcolors.

The LED cover 49 may be provided at a side of the touch PCB 47, the LEDcover 49 covering the light emitting elements 477. That is, the LEDcover 49 may be provided at the upper side of the light emittingelements 477 installed at the upper surface of the touch PCB 47 and maycover the upper side of the light emitting elements 477.

The LED cover 49 may be made of a transparent or translucent materialsuch that light emitted from the light emitting elements 477 passesthrough the LED cover 49. The LED cover 49 may be made of an elasticmaterial.

The LED cover 49 may be formed of a material through which light canpass and may be formed of a material through which light can be diffusedor dispersed if necessary such that light emitted from the lightemitting elements 477 shines brighter.

The LED cover 49 may include: multiple individual covers 491 coveringthe multiple light emitting elements 477, respectively; a cover stand492 formed at a position spaced apart from the individual covers 491 andsupporting the multiple individual covers 491; and cover connectingparts 493 connecting the multiple individual covers 491 to the coverstand 492.

The multiple individual covers 491 may cover sets of the light emittingelements 477 described above, respectively, that is, a total of fivesets of the light emitting elements 477 including pairs of two LEDs (redand white LEDs) configured as a set. In addition, each of the individualcovers 491 may be connected to the cover stand 492 having apredetermined curvature.

An LED recess 494 may be formed at the individual cover 491 by beingrecessed to a side therefrom such that the light emitting element 477 isreceived in the LED recess 494. That is, the individual cover 491 may beinstalled to cover the upper side of the light emitting element 477.Accordingly, the LED recess 494 may be formed at the lower surface ofthe individual cover 491 by being recessed upward therefrom. Such an LEDrecess 494 is a part receiving each of the light emitting elements 477when the LED cover 49 covers the light emitting elements 477.

The individual cover 491 may include: a base dome 491 a in contact witha surface of the touch PCB 47; a middle dome 491 b having a size smallerthan the size of the base dome 491 a; and a top dome 491 c having a sizesmaller than the size of the middle dome 491 b.

Specifically, the base dome 491 a may constitute the lower end of theindividual cover 491 and may be a part in close contact with the uppersurface of the touch PCB 47. The base dome 491 a may be formed to havepredetermined thickness and may be a part received in a cover recess 483of the touch booster 48 to be described later.

The middle dome 491 b may be a part formed at the upper surface of thebase dome 491 a by protruding by a predetermined height upward therefromand may be formed to have a flat cross-section smaller than the basedome 491 a. The middle dome 491 b may be a part received in a middlehole 484 of the touch booster 48 to be described later. Accordingly, themiddle dome 491 b may be configured to have a rectangular cross sectioncorresponding to the middle hole 484 to be described later.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the top dome 491 c may be formed byprotruding upward from the upper surface of the middle dome 491 b andmay have a size smaller than the size of the middle dome 491 b. The topdome 491 c may be a part inserted and fitted into the through hole 433formed at the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42.

Accordingly, the top dome 491 c preferably has a shape (a circularshape) corresponding to the through hole 433, wherein the outer diameterof the top dome 491 c may have a size corresponding to the size of theinner diameter of the through hole 433. More preferably, the top dome491 c may be configured to be coupled to the through hole 433 by aforcible fitting such that water is not introduced to the inside of thehandle 40 from the outside thereof thorough the through hole 433.

The touch booster 48 is preferably configured overall to have a size anda shape corresponding to the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42.

The touch transmission part 481 may be formed at the touch booster 48such that the touch transmission part 481 transmits the pressing of thefirst manipulation part 431 or the second manipulation part 432 formedat the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42 to the touch PCB 47. That is,the touch transmission part 481 may be formed at the touch booster 48such that touch transmission part 481 is located at each of positionsoverlapping the installation positions of the first manipulation part431 or the second manipulation part 432.

The touch transmission part 481 may be located at the lower side of thecenter of the first manipulation part 431 or the second manipulationpart 432 formed at the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42.

The touch transmission part 481 may be formed to be spaced apart fromthe touch booster 48 and may be installed to be connected to the touchbooster 48 by a connecting rib 482 a having a predetermined length suchthat the touch transmission part 481 elastically moves vertically. Thatis, the touch transmission part 481 is preferably configured to haveelasticity such that a center portion of the touch transmission part 481moves to some extent vertically.

More specifically, a booster hole 482 may be formed vertically throughthe touch booster 48 such that the booster hole 482 is located at aposition corresponding to a lower side of each of the first manipulationpart 431 and the second manipulation part 432 of the handle cover 42,wherein the touch transmission part 481 may be configured as arectangular plate having a predetermined size at the center of thebooster hole 482.

In addition, the touch transmission part 481 may have a size smallerthan the size of the booster hole 482. Accordingly, to connect the touchtransmission part 481 to the touch booster 48, the connecting rib 482 amay be provided.

The connecting rib 482 a may be configured to have an L shape or aninverted shape of the L shape (when viewed from above), whereby theopposite ends of the connecting rib 482 a may be connected integrallywith the touch transmission part 481 and the touch booster 48,respectively.

Accordingly, the reason in which the touch transmission part 481 locatedat the center of the booster hole 482 is formed to be connected to thetouch booster 48 by the connecting rib 482 a is to efficiently transmitpressing performed by a user to the touch PCB 47 and prevent malfunctionof the electric kettle. That is, the touch transmission part 481 mayhave elasticity and be vertically moved due to the connecting rib 482 a,and in a case in which the pressing is not precisely performed on eachof the first manipulation part 431 and the second manipulation part 432of the handle cover 42, the pressing may not be transmitted to the touchPCB 47 to prevent the malfunction.

A press protrusion 481 a may be formed at a surface of the touchtransmission part 481 by protruding to a side therefrom. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 17, the press protrusion 481 a may be formed on thelower surface of the touch transmission part 481 by protruding downwardtherefrom. The press protrusion 481 a may have a cylindrical shapehaving a predetermined thickness and may be configured to have apredetermined length, whereby the press protrusion 481 a may beinstalled to be in contact with the upper surface of a board pressingpart 473 a to be described later or to overlap the upper surface of aboard pressing part 473 a located at a position spaced apart therefrom.

The board pressing part 473 a may be provided at the touch board 473 andmay be configured to be in contact with the press protrusion 481 a ofthe touch booster 48 and to transmit pressure applied from the pressprotrusion 481 a to the sensor of the indicator board 471.

The board pressing part 473 a and the touch board 473 may be formed tobe spaced apart from each other and may installed to be connected toeach other by at least one touch rib 473 b such that the board pressingpart 473 a can move vertically.

Specifically, like the touch transmission part 481, the board pressingpart 473 a may also be formed to have elasticity such that the boardpressing part can move vertically. That is, a board hole 473 c may beformed vertically through the touch board 473 such that the board hole473 c is located at a position corresponding to the formed position ofthe booster hole 482 of the touch booster 48, and the board pressingpart 473 a may be provided at the center of such a board hole 473 c.

In addition, the board pressing part 473 a may be connected integrallyto the touch booster 48 by the touch rib 473 b formed in front to rearand side to side directions. Accordingly, the board pressing part 473 amay vertically move by a predetermined distance and may detect only aprecise pressing transmitted from the touch booster 48.

The touch booster 48 may include the cover recess 483 in which the basedome 491 a of the individual cover 491 is received to be mountedthereto, and the middle hole 484 in which the middle dome 491 b of theindividual cover 491 is inserted to be installed thereat.

In addition, a cover wall 485 may be formed at the front end (a left endin FIG. 17) of the touch booster 48 by protruding from a surface of thetouch booster 48 such that the cover wall 485 constitutes an edge of thecover recess 483. That is, the cover wall 485 having a rectangular shapemay be formed at a lower surface of the left end (in FIG. 17) of thetouch booster 48 by protruding downward therefrom. The cover recess 483having a predetermined size may be formed inside such a cover wall 485by being recessed upward therefrom.

When the LED cover 49 is coupled to the lower side of the touch booster48, the cover recess 483 may be a part in which the base dome 491 a ofthe LED cover 49 is received.

The middle hole 484 may be formed vertically through the upper surfaceof the cover recess 483 and may be formed in a rectangular shapecorresponding to the middle dome 491 b of the LED cover 49 describedabove. In addition, when the LED cover 49 is coupled to the lower sideof the touch booster 48, the middle dome 491 b of the LED cover 49 maybe inserted into the middle hole 484.

A connecting groove 485 a may be formed at a side of the cover wall 485by being recessed therefrom such that each of the cover connecting parts493 is received in the connecting groove. That is, the connecting groove485 a may be formed at the right wall of the cover wall 485 (in FIG. 17)by being recessed upward therefrom. When the LED cover 49 is coupled tothe lower side of the touch booster 48, such a connecting groove 485 amay be a part in which the cover connecting part 493 of the LED cover 49is received.

A cover hook 486 may be formed at a side of the cover wall 485, thecover hook holding the base dome 491 a such that the base dome 491 areceived in the cover recess 483 is not removed therefrom to theoutside. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the cover hook 486 may beprovided as a pair of cover hooks formed at the left end of the coverwall 485 by protruding downward and to the right side therefrom and mayhold the base dome 491 a such that the base dome 491 a received in thecover recess 483 is not removed downward therefrom.

The booster support end 487 may be formed at an end of the touch booster48 by protruding downward therefrom such that the booster support end487 is received in the upper end of the pillar frame 412 of the handlesupport 41. That is, the booster support end 487 may be formed at theright end (in FIG. 17) of the touch booster 48 by protruding downwardand extending therefrom and may be a part received in the support endgroove 416 of the handle support 41 described above.

Accordingly, when the lower end of the booster support end 487 is seatedon the lower end of the support end groove 416 of the handle support 41,the touch booster 48 may be stably placed on the handle support 41.

Accordingly, when fastening the booster support end 487 to the handlesupport 41, the booster support end 487 is not required to have aseparate screw or a fastening means. That is, when the lower end of thebooster support end 487 is seated on the lower end of the support endgroove 416 of the handle support 411, the weight of the touch booster 48may be supported by the lower end of the support end groove 416, andwhen the handle cover 42 is mounted on the touch booster 48, the touchbooster 48 may be prevented from shaking to the outside (a rear side) bythe inner surface of the handle cover 42.

In addition, the booster support end 487 is preferably configured tohave curvature corresponding to the rear surface of the pillar frame 412of the handle support 41.

A board support jaw 487 a may be formed at a surface of the boostersupport end 487 by protruding to a side therefrom, the board support jaw487 a supporting an end of the touch PCB 47 or the main PCB 46. That is,the board support jaw 487 a may be formed at the inner surface of thebooster support end 487 (a right surface thereof in FIG. 17) byprotruding to the left side (in FIG. 17) therefrom.

The rear end of the indicator board 471 of the touch PCB 47 may beplaced on and supported by the board support jaw 487 a.

In addition, although not shown, such a board support jaw 487 a may befurther formed at the lower end of the booster support end 487 tosupport the rear end of the main PCB 46.

Accordingly, when at least one board support jaw 487 a is formed on theinner surface (a front surface) of the booster support end 487 byprotruding horizontally therefrom and supports the touch PCB 47 or themain PCB 46, the touch PCB 47 or the main PCB 46 may be completelymounted to the handle support 41 without being required to be fastenedby a screw.

Additionally, as illustrated in the drawings, the outer edge of each ofthe touch booster 48, the touch PCB 47, and the main PCB 46 may beconfigured to correspond to the shape and size of the inner surface ofthe side wall frame 411 of the handle support 41. Accordingly, aftereach of the touch booster 48, the touch PCB 47, and the main PCB 46 ismounted to the inside of the side wall frame 411 of the handle support41, the touch booster 48, the touch PCB 47, and the main PCB 46 may beprevented from shaking forward and downward, and side to side.

The holding rib 488 may be formed at each of the opposite ends (frontand rear ends in FIG. 17) of the touch booster 48 by protruding forwardand rearward (in FIG. 17), respectively, therefrom. The holding rib 488is a part inserted into the holding-rib groove 418 of the handle support41.

Accordingly, the holding rib 488 may be formed at the opposite ends ofthe touch booster 48 by protruding laterally therefrom and may beinserted into the holding-rib groove 418 of the handle support 41,whereby even without using a separate fastening means such as a screw,the touch booster 48 may be seated and supported at a precise positionof the handle support 41. That is, the holding rib 488 of the touchbooster 48 may be supported by the handle support 41 and may be incontact with the inner surface of the handle cover 42, so the touchbooster 48 may be prevented from shaking vertically and laterally suchas forward and rearward and side to side.

Accordingly, when the handle cover 42 is mounted to the handle support41, the touch booster 48 may be in close contact with the lower surfaceof the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42, so the vertical movement ofthe touch booster 48 may be prevented.

Additionally, as described above, the through hole 433 may be formedvertically through the top piece 43 of the handle cover 42 such that thethrough hole has a shape corresponding to the appearance of the top dome491 c, wherein the top dome 491 c may be received in the through hole433 and may guide light emission performed by the light emitting element477 to the outside of the handle 40. Accordingly, a user may checkwhether contents contained inside the body 10 are being heated or keptwarm from the upper side of the handle 40.

Meanwhile, although not shown in detail, a communication part may beprovided in the inner space of the handle 40. That is, due to theprovision of the communication part in the inner space of the handle 40,the electric kettle 1 may be configured to be controlled or to transmitinformation by wireless communication.

Such a communication part may be configured as various communicationmodules capable of communication, such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee, and NFC. Inaddition, the communication part may also be connected to the main PCB46 such that the overall operation of the electric kettle 1 can becontrolled by using wireless communication.

In FIGS. 21 to 28, the configuration of the handle 40 according to asecond embodiment is illustrated. That is, a perspective view and anexploded perspective view of the handle 40 according to the secondembodiment are illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, respectively; a cutperspective view of a state in which the handle cover 42 is removed fromthe handle 40 according to the second embodiment is illustrated in FIG.23; a partial sectional view illustrating a state of the handle 40 thefastened to body 10 according to the second embodiment is illustrated inFIG. 24. In addition, partial perspective views illustrating states ofthe handle 40 hastened to the inner body 12 and the outer body 11according to the second embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26,respectively; perspective views of the configurations of the handlesupport 41 and the handle bracket 15 according to the second embodimentare illustrated in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, respectively.

Hereinafter, components having the same functions as components of thehandle 40 described above use the same reference numerals, anddescription of the same components as described above will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the handle 40 according to the secondembodiment and the handle 40 according to the first embodiment aredifferent from each other in only a portion of the configurations of thehandle support 41 and the handle bracket 15 constituting the handle 40but are the same in the remaining configuration of the handle 40.

In the embodiment, the bracket fastening end 413 may be formed at thefront end part of the handle support 41 such that the bracket fasteningend has a shape of a flat plate having a predetermined size. Such abracket fastening end 413 may have a U shape (when viewed from the rightside) as a whole and may include three screw ends 413 c formed incylindrical shapes.

Accordingly, the bracket fastening end 413 may be fastened to the handlebracket 15 by three screws.

Meanwhile, at least one reinforcing rib 413 b may be formed at the frontsurface of the bracket fastening end 413. The reinforcing rib 413 ballows the screw ends 413 c to be connected with each other or may beconfigured to connect a centered screw end 413 c of the screw ends 413with the holding end 415.

The holding end 415 may be formed on the upper end of the bracketfastening end 413 by protruding upward therefrom. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 22, the holding end 415 may be formed on the frontend of the upper surface of the bracket fastening end 413 by protrudingupward therefrom such that the holding end has a predetermined height.

The holding end 415 may be a part held in the upper end of the handlehole 111 of the outer body 11.

At least one seating rib 411 a supporting the PCB may be formed at aninner side of the side wall frame 411. That is, as illustrated in FIG.23, a pair of seating ribs 411 a may be formed at the opposite sides,respectively, of the lower half portion of the inner surface of the sidewall frame 411 by protruding inward therefrom.

The upper ends of the seating rib 411 a may be formed to be in contactwith the opposite ends of the lower surface of the main PCB 46 and maysupport the lower part of the main PCB 46.

In addition, a work hole 416 a may be formed at the lower side of thesupport end groove 416 of the handle support 41 by being recesseddownward therefrom. The work hole 416 a may be a hole into which aworker inserts a driver from the rear side of the handle support 41 (theright side in FIG. 25) such that a screw can be fastened to the screwend 413 c.

Meanwhile, the configuration of the handle bracket 15 according to thesecond embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in FIG. 28.The function and shape of each part of the handle bracket 15 are thesame as described above, except that the handle bracket 15 is configuredto be assembled by using three screws as illustrated in FIG. 28.

Specifically, the handle bracket 15 may include attaching parts 151coupled to the inner body 12; a fastening part 152 coupled to thebracket fastening end 413; and a connecting part 153 connecting each ofthe attaching parts 151 and the fastening part 152 to each other, whichare spaced apart from each other.

In addition, the attaching part 151 may be configured to have acurvature corresponding to the outer surface of the inner body 12 andmay be fixed to the inner body 12 by welding or an adhesive.

However, here, three fastening holes 154 to which the screws arefastened may be formed at the handle bracket 15, and the attaching part151 may be further formed even at a lower side of the handle bracket 15in addition to the opposites of the handle bracket 15, which isdifferent from the configuration of the above handle bracket 15, but theremaining function of the handle bracket 15 according to the secondembodiment is the same as the function of the handle bracket accordingto the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, the operation of the electric kettle having the aboveconfiguration of the present disclosure will be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

First, to use the electric kettle 1 of the present disclosure, a usermay plug a power line (not shown) connected to the base 60 into anoutlet such that power is supplied to the electric kettle.

In this state, after water or contents may be put into the heating space101 of the inside of the body 10, the body 10 may be placed on the base60.

When the body 10 is seated on the base 60, the upper power module 55 andthe lower power module 64 may be in contact with each other such thatpower can be supplied to the body 10 from the base 60.

Next, a user may manipulate a press part of the top piece 43 of thehandle 40 such that the heater 54 begins to be heated. In this case, auser may check a preset temperature through a display part such as thethrough hole 433 and may manipulate the first manipulation part 431 orthe second manipulation part 432 such that water received in the heatingspace 101 begins to be heated. That is, the first manipulation part 431which is an on/off button may be pressed to control the operation of theheater 54, so a user may control the heating of water and the stoppingof the heating.

In addition, the second manipulation part 432 may be manipulated bybeing pressed such that the setting and manipulation of temperature canbe instructed. In addition, as required, at least two manipulation parts(press parts) may be provided.

Due to such manipulation, the heater 54 may begin operating, and waterreceived in the heating space 101 may be heated by heat generated by theheater 54.

When the water in the heating space 101 reaches a preset temperaturedetected by the temperature sensor 53, the operation of the heater 54may stop and the operation of the electric kettle 1 may be completed.

When the operation of the electric kettle 1 is completed, a user mayraise the body 10 by hold the handle 40 to separate the body 10 from thebase 60 and may pour the heated water through the spout 30 by tiltingthe electric kettle 1.

In the electric kettle 1, in a state in which the heating of water iscompleted, heat transmission may be decreased or stopped due to thedouble structure of the body 10. Accordingly, even if a user touches theouter surface of the body 10 when using the electric kettle, the usermay be safe since the outer surface is not excessively hot.

Even when the heater 54 stops operating, the temperature of the heatedwater may be maintained for a long time.

Meanwhile, the handle 40 may be coupled to the body 10. The assemblyprocess of the handle 40 will be described hereinafter.

First, the parts of the control means 45 may be completely mounted tothe handle support 41. Next, the handle cover 42 may be coupled to thehandle support 41.

In this case, the cover bracket 44 may be fixed to the inner surface ofthe handle cover 42 by welding. In this state, the handle cover 42 maybe brought close to the handle support 41 from the rear side of thehandle support 41.

Specifically, with the handle cover 42 located at a slightly higherposition than the handle support 41, the handle cover 42 may be broughtinto close contact with the rear surface of the handle support 41.

In this case, the rear surface of the handle cover 42 may be in closecontact with the rear surface of the handle support 41, and in thisstate, the handle cover 42 may be moved downward.

When the handle cover 42 moves downward, the pillar part 442 of thecover bracket 44 may be in close contact with the rear surface of thepillar frame 412 of the handle support 41. Accordingly, the guide part444 c of the pillar hook 444 may be inserted into the pillar hook hole403. Simultaneously, the side wall hook 443 may be received in the sidewall hook groove 417.

In this case, the handle cover 42 may be in close contact with andfastened to the handle support 41. Accordingly, the assembly of thehandle 40 may be completed.

After the assembly of the handle 40 is completed, the handle 40 may befastened to the body 10.

Accordingly, in the state in which the handle 40 is assembled, the frontend of the handle 40 may be brought close to the front end of the body10. Of course, in this case, the handle bracket 15 may be coupled to theupper end of the inner body 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5.

In this case, when the handle 40 is brought close to the body 10 byslightly slanting toward the body 10, the holding end 415 of the handle40 may be received in the handle hole 111 of the outer body 11.Accordingly, when the holding end 415 is received in the outer body 11,the handle 40 may take a standing posture.

In this case, the bracket fastening end 413 of the handle 40 may be inclose contact with the handle bracket 15, and the bracket fastening end413 and the handle bracket 15 may be fastened to each other by screws.

When this process is completed, the handle 40 may be coupled to the body10.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the bracket fastening end 413 andthe handle bracket 15 are illustrated to be fastened to each other bytwo screws and three screws.

Additionally, according to the configuration of the holding end 415, thehandle 40 may be moved downward or upward while being in close contactwith the body 10 such that the bracket fastening end 413 and the handlebracket 15 may be fastened to each other. That is, in the firstembodiment, the holding end 415 protrudes toward the lower side of thebracket fastening end 413. In this case, after the handle 40 is broughtinto close contact with the body 10, the handle 40 may be moved downwardto be fastened to the body 10.

Contrarily, in the handle 40 according to the second embodiment, theholding end 415 may protrude to the upper side of the bracket fasteningend 413. In this case, after the handle 40 is brought into close contactwith the body 10, the handle may be moved up to be fastened to the body10.

Accordingly, a state in which the holding end 415 protruding upward iscoupled to the outer body 11 is illustrated in FIG. 26.

Of course, without first assembling the handle 40, the handle support 41of the handle 40 may first be coupled to the body 10, and then thehandle cover 42 may be coupled to the handle support 41 as describedabove. That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, the handle support 41may first pass through the outer body 11 such that the holding end 415is held in the handle hole 111, and then the bracket fastening end 413may be fastened to the handle bracket 15 by a screw.

Next, the handle cover 42 may be coupled to the handle support 41 bybeing brought into close contact therewith. Of course, in this case,prior to the coupling of the handle cover 42, the control means 45 mayfirst be required to be installed.

The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodimentsillustrated above, and those skilled in the art may make many othermodifications based on the present disclosure within the technical scopeof the present disclosure as described above.

1. An electric kettle comprising: a body receiving water or foodtherein; a lid configured to shield an open upper side of the body; abase provided at a lower side of the body and configured to support thebody; a heating module provided in a side of the body and configured toapply heat to the body such that the content contained in the body isheated; and a handle provided at a side of the body and configured to beheld by hand, wherein a control means is provided in the handle, thecontrol means being configured to control power supplied to the heatingmodule or to control a temperature of the content contained in the body.2. The electric kettle of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises: ahandle support supporting multiple parts provided therein andconstituting a frame of the handle, and a handle cover coupled to thehandle support and covering the multiple parts provided in the handlesupport, wherein the handle support and the handle cover are fastened toeach other by a one-touch action, and the control means is providedbetween the handle support and the handle cover.
 3. The electric kettleof claim 2, wherein the handle support comprises: a pillar frame whichis a part covered by a hand of a user; and a side wall frame havingspace formed therein such that the control means is installed in thespace, and the handle cover comprises: a pillar piece covering at leastone surface of the pillar frame; a side piece formed at an upper side ofthe pillar piece and covering an outer part of the side wall frame; anda top piece formed at a side of the side wall frame and shielding anopen upper portion of the side wall frame.
 4. The electric kettle ofclaim 3, wherein the top piece comprises: a first manipulation partconfigured to be pressed or touched by a user such that power suppliedinto the electric kettle is on/off, and a second manipulation partformed at a side of the first manipulation part and configured to bepressed or touched by a user such that a temperature of an inside of thebody is set or controlled.
 5. The electric kettle of claim 4, whereinthe control means comprises: a main PCB provided with multiple controlparts; a touch PCB provided at a side of the main PCB and configured todetect the pressing or touching transmitted through the firstmanipulation part or/and the second manipulation part of the top piece;and a touch booster provided at a side of the touch PCB and configuredto transmit the pressing or touching of the first manipulation partor/and the second manipulation part of the top piece to the touch PCBwithout malfunctioning.
 6. The electric kettle of claim 5, whereinmultiple light emitting elements and an LED cover are provided at a sideor an end of the touch PCB, the multiple light emitting elements beingconfigured to display a temperature state or temperature setting of thebody to the outside, and the LED cover being made of a transparent ortranslucent elastic material and covering the light emitting elements.7. The electric kettle of claim 6, wherein a touch transmission part isformed at the touch booster such that the touch transmission parttransmits the pressing of the first manipulation part or the secondmanipulation part formed at the top piece of the handle cover to thetouch PCB, the touch transmission part being located at a lower side ofa center of the first manipulation part or the second manipulation part.8. The electric kettle of claim 7, wherein the touch transmission partis formed to be spaced apart from the touch booster and is installed tobe connected to the touch booster by a connecting rib having apredetermined length such that the touch transmission part elasticallymoves vertically, a press protrusion being formed at a surface of thetouch transmission part by protruding to a side therefrom.
 9. Theelectric kettle of claim 8, wherein the touch PCB comprises: anindicator board having a sensor detecting the pressing or touching ofthe first manipulation part or the second manipulation part formed atthe top piece of the handle cover; a touch board provided at a side ofthe indicator board and configured to transmit the pressing transmittedfrom the touch transmission part of the touch booster to the sensor ofthe indicator board; and a protection board provided between theindicator board and the touch board and protecting the sensor providedin the indicator board such that the sensor is blocked from externalinterference, wherein a board pressing part is provided at the touchboard, the board pressing part being configured to be in contact withthe press protrusion of the touch booster and to transmit pressureapplied from the press protrusion to the sensor of the indicator board,and the board pressing part and the touch board are formed to be spacedapart from each other and are installed to be connected to each other byat least one touch rib such that the board pressing part movesvertically.
 10. The electric kettle of claim 9, wherein a boostersupport end is formed at an end of the touch booster by protrudingdownward therefrom, the booster support end being received in an upperend of the pillar frame of the handle support, and a board support jawis formed at a surface of the booster support end by protruding to aside therefrom, the board support jaw supporting an end of the touch PCBor the main PCB.